Barbara Lee

“ The Association's founding occurred in the midst of a turbulent time for African Americans and for our country. Malcolm X was fearlessly expressing his views on race relations. Many African nations were being liberated after years of colonial rule and oppression. The civil rights movement was gaining national momentum, and many young African Americans were feeling a newfound source of pride in their African heritage. ”

“ Whereas 44 percent of LGBTQ+ middle and high school students frequently or often hear negative remarks about transgender people in school and nearly 70 percent of LGBTQ+ middle and high school students were verbally harassed in the past year because of their sexual orientation;
Whereas 45 percent of LGBTQ+ middle and high school students experienced harassment via electronic means in the past year;
Whereas 82 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native LGBTQ+ (or Two Spirit) middle and high school students felt unsafe based on their sexual orientation in the past year ”

“ A primary impetus for the group's establishment was an interest in learning the real history of Africa and slavery in the United States. Not having the resources for a mass media campaign, group members took their message to where the people were: they took their message to the streets. ”

“ Whereas over 60 organizations, including the National School Boards Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Education Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, GLSEN, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, have come together as No Name-Calling Week partner organizations ”

“ Whereas bullying and name-calling disproportionately impact students who hold more than one real or perceived identity-based attribute that makes them vulnerable to such inappropriate behavior in communities across the country ”

“ Whereas 36 percent of elementary students reported being bullied or called names at some point while in school and elementary students who are bullied are four times as likely as other students to say they do not want to go to school because they feel afraid or unsafe ”